DWP 'blocking' Carer's Allowance payments if claimants 'own up to job'

The Department for Work and Pensions is "blocking" people from Carer's Allowance if they "own up to a job". A claimant, known only as JW, wrote into the national newspaper the Guardian to discuss being denied the benefit from the DWP.

The writer wrote into the Guardian newspaper said: "I was interested to see your story on 3 June about the person who spent more than four months trying to get their carer’s allowance restarted by the Department for Work and Pensions after a temporary job took them over the earnings threshold.

"I am a carer for my husband and in a very similar situation. Last year, when I resigned from my job because my husband’s condition had declined, my employer gave me a lump sum for holiday pay owing. This took me over the earnings limit. I declared it and my allowance was stopped for two months.

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"However, eight months have passed since it was supposed to have restarted. DWP staff tell me my claim is valid and someone in the “back office” just needs to process it but I have had nothing since last October."

The Guardian says the DWP declined to comment on the reason for the delay, or on alleged claim backlogs. But it has apologised and the writer "has received a backdated payment of £2,983.15". Replying to the warning, a reader said: "Anyone in this situation should contact their local Citizens Advice - they have their own phone numbers for getting through to DWP and the clout to get problems like this solved."

A second said: "A Labour priority ought to be resources for the DWP and HMRC to have help desks that can actually be contacted and respond to inquiries in a timely manner. In my experience, HMRC people are efficient and helpful if you’re lucky enough to get through to them by phone but letters seem to go into a black hole, even if sent in response to an HMRC request."